Cathedral in the gothic quarter of Barcelona. Gothic quarter of Barcelona

How the quarter was built up

Not all objects of the Gothic quarter appeared here in the Middle Ages, during the heyday of the union of the state of the Aragonese crown, of which the principality of Catalonia was an important part. The first surviving stone objects were built in antiquity - these are the ruins of the city wall, the palace of Octavian Augustus and the aqueduct in the vicinity of Tapineria street and New square... The most active territory of the future Gothic quarter of Barcelona was developed in the XIII-XIV centuries, but since then Barcelona has gone through a series of historical and natural disasters. Ancient houses burned, came under fire, they were destroyed by earthquakes. As a result, by the twentieth century, most of the buildings, which had been rebuilt several times, required a global reconstruction. Modern monuments the architecture is a fusion of Gothic, Neoclassicism and Neo-Gothic, complemented by the skillful work of restorers.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

Gothic buildings and squares

The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona has largely retained its medieval layout, although many areas have been expanded with the demolition of old buildings. Among the most popular tourist sites are the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia, New Square, the Church of Santa Maria del Pi.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

In the majestic, richly decorated cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Barcelona, ​​in the center of the quarter are the relics of a 14-year-old Christian girl who suffered at the hands of pagans in the 4th century. The carved spiers of the temple inspired Antoni Gaudi for the Sagrada Familia project. The interior of the cathedral is no less luxurious than the façade; the courtyard with a fountain and a miniature garden, accessible to the eyes of visitors, contains white geese, symbolizing the purity and innocence of Saint Eulalia. The cathedral is open to tourists from 8:00 to 19:30.

Church of Santa Maria del Pi

The 14th century building located near the Liseu metro station is distinguished by its simplicity of form. The stone façade is decorated only with a giant 10-meter rosette, restored to its original form 80 years ago, and a pointed arch above the entrance. Guests and believers are expected at the temple from 9:30 to 20:30. The historic interior of the church was seriously damaged during the fires and the civil war in Spain, only the 18th century Rococo seats have survived, the altar is modern neo-Gothic.

The name should not confuse tourists: in fact, this is the oldest square in Barcelona, ​​completely built up in the XIV century. It is one of the most eclectic architectural ensembles in the Catalan capital. Once it was the outskirts of a Roman settlement, from where aqueducts originated, the ruins of which can still be seen. Next to the ancient ruins is the medieval House of the Archdeacon with modernized dark fortified towers. The College of Architecture on the other side of New Square is decorated with modern "rock paintings" - cheerful stylized images of people.

Landmarks of the later eras

On the ruins that cannot be restored, the masters of past centuries erected new buildings. Among such works of architecture is the Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor, located 100 meters south of the Jaume I metro station: the facades were rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style, the interior became neoclassical. The 17th century church of San Felipe Neri is famous for its Baroque reliefs and sculptures on the façade. Near Columbus Avenue is the La Merce Church, built in the 18th century on the ruins of a Gothic temple. It is famous among pilgrims for the wooden figure of Our Lady of Mercy kept inside. It is one of the city's most revered Catholic sites and has received the privileged status of a minor basilica along with the Church of Santa Maria del Pi and the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia. On September 23, a cult procession is organized annually in honor of the sculpture. A secular landmark, the Royal Square with a fountain, lanterns designed by Antoni Gaudí, and powerful palm trees appeared only in the 19th century, but this does not prevent it from being a favorite vacation spot for indigenous Barcelona people.

Gothic Quarter museums

Thematic variety of museums historic center Barcelona caters to the tastes of the city's most discerning guests. The Gaudí Exhibition Center with the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona together with the Art Museum and the Museum of Frederic Mares, the famous Catalan sculptor, is open a few dozen meters from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Erotic Museum operates near St. Joseph Boulevard, famous for its flower shops. The Wax Museum awaits visitors as they approach Columbus Avenue.

Events in the Gothic Quarter

The small hall of the millennial church of St. Anne is used for concerts by masters of the Spanish guitar. On Sundays, in St. James's Square, everyone who wants to participate in round dances-sardans to the sounds of orchestras of folk instruments. On the days of festivals, competitions for the construction of pyramids-castels are also held here. Building material for them, the participants of the competition themselves become: at the base there are 8-10 strong men, representatives of the next level are taken to their backs and so on up to 10 floors.

Information for tourists

On the borders of the Gothic Quarter, there are metro stations line 3 "Liseu" and line 4 "Jaume I". From here it is convenient to start your acquaintance with Barcelona: the main attractions of the city are located within a 2 km radius. Restaurants and cafes are open literally at every step: a wide assortment of national cuisine establishments, thematic projects, such as rock cafes, jazz clubs and art cabaret "4 cats". Once a young Picasso exhibited here, Albeniz played. Today, cabaret owners are trying to recreate the bohemian atmosphere of the early 20th century: live piano music sounds until 1 am, artists perform. The number of boutiques representing world brands is not inferior to the number of restaurants. There are many small but rather expensive hotels on the territory of the quarter.

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona is located in the heart of the old city. Its name is explained by the fact that no other city in Europe has such a number of Gothic buildings collected in one place.

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The Gothic Quarter is the most ancient part Barcelona, ​​which began its existence more than 2000 years ago. At that time, there was a small settlement (about 1 thousand people), surrounded by a fortress wall, called Barcino. In this place, the retired Roman soldiers received land and settled, who were engaged in crafts, cultivation of land, growing grapes, and producing wine.

By the 3rd century A.D. the settlement already numbered about 5 thousand people. Houses, temples, baths, aqueducts characteristic of the Romans of that era were built. As the power of the Roman Empire weakened, Barcino gradually fell into decay. The inhabitants were raided by the nomadic tribes of the Suevi, Vandals, Alans, and in the 5th century it was conquered by the Germanic tribe of the Visigoths. Roman buildings were partially destroyed, new ones arose in their place. From time to time the city passed from one tribe to another. And only when Barcino in the XII century. became part of the powerful Aragonese kingdom, construction and economic growth began.

What to see?

The Gothic Quarter is not a separate attraction, but a whole city with narrow labyrinths of gloomy medieval streets, squares, lancet towers of cathedrals, wrought iron bars and stained-glass windows. There are many beautiful places combining examples of architecture of the Gothic and Romanesque eras with later buildings.

Plaza Nova

Plaza Nova or New Square opens the entrance to the Gothic Quarter. This is the oldest square in the city, dating back to the 14th century. Until that time, it was located outside the city limits, it was a thriving market, where they traded not only food, hay, utensils, but also slaves.

Since ancient times, two Romanesque towers have been preserved on it, which were part of the fortress wall - the only protective structure the inhabitants of the city from the barbarian tribes. To the right of the towers is the 13th century Archbishop's Palace with a Baroque facade. On the left is the Archdeacon's Palace, which now houses the City Historical Archive. Here you can also see the ruins of the old aqueduct that supplied the city with water. Nearby is the Romanesque chapel of Santa Lucia dating from 1275.

Attracts attention that stands out from the general old ensemble, modern building Collegiums of Architects. On the facade there is a decorative composition depicting scenes from the folklore of Catalonia, by P. Picasso.

Plaza de Sant Jaume

The name of the square was given by the medieval church of St. Jacob (Sant Jaume) standing here until the 19th century. it central square the cities where the buildings of political power are located: the City Hall (Town Hall) and the Government Palace, political, social events and city celebrations are held.

In ancient times, it was the crossroads of the main streets of Barcino, and there was a forum here. The authorities have been located in this place since the XIV century. The square acquired its modern look at the beginning of the 19th century. Before that, there was a cluster of small shops located between the cemetery and the church. The square was cleared, the benches were removed, the church was moved to the next street, it became spacious and bright.

Cathedral

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia - oldest building city ​​- is the main cathedral. Its construction lasted 122 years: from 1298 to 1420. The cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Dimensions of the building: 93 * 40 m. The facade is decorated with sculptures of saints; towers, spiers with the coats of arms of the knights go up 80 m. Some of the chapels, located three on each side of the square courtyard, still retain forged lattices of the 14th century. Colored bright stained-glass windows and carved seats were made with great skill.

The center of gravity of the interior is the wooden figure of Christ, which was brought here from the bow of the ship that took part in the battle of Lepanto. She is deformed, has the shape of the letter S, because she took the blow of the enemy core and saved the ship. Next to the main altar are the tombs of the Catalan rulers, founders and patrons of the temple. The head of a Turk hangs down from an imposing organ, reminiscent of the victory over the Muslims.

In the center of the courtyard there is a rotunda with a fountain. The snow-white geese floating in the reservoir symbolize the immaculate purity of Saint Eulalia, the patroness of Barcelona. A poor 13-year-old girl lived by raising geese. Having the gift of persuasion, she ardently urged the inhabitants of the city to renounce paganism, was persecuted and died as a martyr in the IV century for the faith of Christ. Geese are always 13 - according to the number of years of a young maiden. Since 1339, the cathedral has housed a white marble sarcophagus with the relics of a saint - a real work of art.

Great Royal Palace

The Great Royal Palace consists of several buildings, these are: the palace itself, the watchtower of King Martin, the chapel of St. Agatha. The building of the palace was erected in the XII century, it served as the residence of the counts and kings of Aragon. Later, a magnificent throne room was added to it, where in 1493 the monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella welcomed Admiral Columbus, who came from his first trip to the shores of America.

The Chapel of St. Agatha with the court chapel is an example of the graceful Gothic of the 14th century, decorated with a majestic bell tower, stained glass windows and wooden carvings. Inside there is a masterpiece of the Gothic art of Catalonia - the picturesque composition "Retablo del Connetable", consisting of episodes of Holy Scripture. The dominant feature of the palace ensemble is the high watchtower of King Martin of the 16th century, built with several tiers of galleries, which gives the square's peculiar character.

City Hall and Government Palace

The City Hall (City Hall) building is located on the Plaza de Sant Jaume, uniting three buildings of different eras and styles. It looks voluminous and majestic. Its neoclassical façade, dating from 1832-36, hides an old building from the 14th century, is decorated with a Gothic portico with columns and sculptures of great politicians, and is crowned with the coat of arms of Barcelona.

Opposite the City Hall is the Palace of the Government (Generalitata) - the seat of the current government of Catalonia. The building has several unusual facades: on the one hand, there is a Renaissance-style facade, designed by Pere Blai in 1596, on the other, a Gothic facade, dating from 1416, belonging to the architect Mark Safont. It depicts a sculpture of Saint George - the patron saint of Catalonia, defeating the dragon. Inside the palace is the chapel of St. George, dating from 1425.

King's Square

King's Square is a small space, almost completely enclosed by medieval buildings. This place is always not crowded, cool, which makes it possible to relax and have a pleasant time in a cozy outdoor cafe. It got its name because the Great Royal Palace is located here, located in the depths of the square. On the left is the Viceroy's Palace (Palau del Llotinent). It is a four-story building with an Italian courtyard, where the governors of the king, who ruled Barcelona on his behalf, lived. The palace was built in the middle of the 16th century in the Renaissance style.

Now it houses the Aragonese Royal Archives, which contains valuable historical documents belonging to the royal dynasty. Opposite is the 15th century Clarian Padellas Palace. It was rebuilt several times, and acquired its modern look at the beginning of the 20th century. It currently houses the Historical Museum of Barcelona. In its basement halls, exhibits of the pre-Christian era are exhibited: fragments of ancient Roman buildings, the temple of Augustus. Next to the Clarian Palace of Padellas is the chapel of Saint Agatha dating back to 1302. It was erected by order of King Jaime II and his wife Blanca de Anjou.

Frederic Mares Museum

The museum is located in the building of the Royal Palace. It began its existence in 1946, when the famous Catalan sculptor and traveler F. Mares donated his collection to the city. It included unique exhibits from the Roman period to the 19th century.

The museum currently consists of three expositions. On the ground floor there are sculptures, crucifixes, crosses from pre-Christian times to the 15th century. On the second - exhibits of the 15th-19th centuries. On the third, there is a unique exposition called the "sentimental" museum. It consists of utensils and household items (dishes, tools, postcards, jewelry, smoking accessories, etc.), which were used in the 15th - 20th centuries.

Roman columns

Roman columns represent the remains of the majestic temple of Augustus, which measured 37 * 17 m. It was erected in Barcino on the Taber hill at the end of the 1st century. BC. and glorified the emperor Augustus Caesar. Now on the hill on the site of the temple there is a plaque, and what is left of it is in the heart of the Gothic quarter.

These are four powerful Corinthian columns with a height of 9 meters, which are installed next to the Catalan excursion center and, as it were, squeezed between the walls. They are well preserved: flutes (vertical grooves running along the column) and architrave (base) are visible. In addition to the columns, small fragments of the lower podium part of the building have survived.

Houses of the Jews

The houses of the Jews are located in the Jewish quarter (El Call), which consists of several narrow streets, where the gloomy atmosphere of the Middle Ages is especially felt. Jews were outcasts among Christians, their habitat was fenced in by a wall. Christians were allowed to enter the Jewish quarter only during trading days. Now here you can see low houses with small windows, more like prison cells. Some have preserved underground labyrinths and secret doors. They were made to make it easier to leave in the event of a pogrom.

During one of them in 1391, the synagogue was badly damaged; it was restored only in the 20th century. It is now operational and available for visiting. You can learn about the history of Jewish life in Barcelona by visiting the Museum of the History of the Jewish Quarter. There are preserved household items of the 13th - 16th centuries, manuscripts, books, tombstones.

Gothic Quarter (Spanish.Barrio gotico) - the central and oldest part of the Old Town Of Barcelona , her womb, this is where this amazing city... The quarter starts from Plaza Catalunya and extends from La Rumble s to Via Laetana avenue.

It all began over 2000 years ago with the modest Roman settlement of Barcino, surrounded on all sides by an impregnable wall 2 meters wide. The streets of today's Gothic Quarter at that time formed an oval, along which a defensive position passed. Of the walls behind which retired Roman warriors once lived, little is left today. The oldest house in the Gothic Quarter, which witnessed many historical events and survived an earthquake in the 14th century, dates back to the 12th century.

The Gothic quarter began to be called at the beginning of the 20th century - the largest in Europe architectural ensemble buildings of the XIV-XV centuries appear here in perfect harmony and deserves a lot of attention. The area is an example of the layout of medieval cities and consists of many winding streets that flow into each other and form a combination of architecture from the era of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages and 20th century Art Nouveau, enchanting visitors with its grandeur and beauty.

Attractions in the Gothic Quarter

The second name of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona is "Cathedral", here is the Cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, Spanish: La Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia), the main masterpiece of medieval architecture of the city, with a magnificent Gothic facade. It is very difficult to look at the architecture of the cathedral from the outside, the stone giant is literally squeezed into the narrow streets of the Old Town. The construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century and continued for several centuries. The main façade was completed relatively recently, towards the end 19th century... The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, a young girl who was tortured and martyred at the hands of pagans for the Christian faith in the 4th century. Eulalia was 13 years old, and in memory of this, exactly 13 white geese live in one of the chapels inside the Cathedral, symbolizing the purity and innocence of the patroness of Barcelona.

The Gothic Quarter originates from Placa Nova, or New Square, which, despite its name, was founded in 1355. At that time, the city gate was located here. The remains of the ancient Roman walls and two large four-story Roman towers that defended the northeastern gates of the city wall until the 18th century have survived on the square to this day. On the same square is the Baroque Episcopal Palace with a magnificent façade. The imposing building is built on Roman foundations and contrasts with the more modern home of the College of Architects, a white structure with huge friezes invented by Picasso. The building was built in 1961. "Children's Frieze", "Freese of Giants" and "Freese of the Flag" were designed by Picasso by the Norwegian Karl Nesyar.

Another value of Plaza Nova is the House of the Archdeacon (Casa del Ardiaca), which separates the New Square from the Cathedral and contains fragments of the fortress wall. The building has been the seat of the ecclesiastical diocese since the end of the 12th century. The house went through two renovations in the XVI and XIX centuries, the last alteration turned out to be so large-scale that it connected the building with the neighboring structure, making one of the two buildings. Now in one architectural object we can see a mixture of styles: Gothic, Renaissance and even Art Nouveau. One of the "newest" details is the 1895 letterbox, decorated in a modernist style by Lewis Domenech y Montaner in 1902 at the request of the Bar Association. Three swallows on it symbolize the independence of justice, the turtle - bureaucracy. On this moment Casa del Ardiaka is the repository of the city's archives.

One of Barcelona's main streets, Carrer del Bisbe, connects Plaza Nova with Placa de Sant Jaume, a historically established center of political life that was a forum in Roman times. The Plaza de Sant Jaume is home to the City Hall and other administrative buildings, including the House of Canons and the Palace of the Government, connected by a neo-Gothic bridge from 1926 by Joan Rubio. The appearance of the city hall was reflected in different centuries and architectural styles... The façade facing the square and considered to be the main one was built in the neoclassical style in the middle of the 19th century. A little bit of Gothic is preserved in the side façade - "Gothic". But much more of the medieval spirit was preserved inside the building, rather than outside. In addition to the famous Hall of the Hundred, there is a Gothic gallery, a “ladder of honor”, ​​an inner courtyard and several other halls created in the Middle Ages. You can visit the City Hall any Sunday from 10:00 to 13:30. The Plaza de Sant Jaume was renovated in 1823. Nearby are the ruins of the Temple of Augustus (1st century).

Royal Square, or Plaza del Rei (cat. Plaç a del Rei) - the most famous and popular among tourists, the square of the Gothic Quarter, a wonder of the Gothic and the scene of countless historical events in Barcelona. It is known that it was on this square on April 3, 1493 that the Catholic rulers Fernando and Isabella received Christopher Columbus, who had returned from his maiden voyage to America. All structures on this square are made in the Gothic style. Here it is Royal Palace, which served as a residence for the counts of Catalonia from the 13th to the 15th century. The first palace of the ruler was built on this square by the Visigoths. During the period when the lands were under their dominion, the Visigoths made Toledo the capital, and a governor was sent to Barcelona, ​​who was supposed to rule the city. For the governor, the first palace was built here, on the site of which there were earlier Roman buildings. On the ruins of Roman buildings, the Visigoths erected their palaces and temples, which later suffered the same fate - they were destroyed in the Middle Ages to give way to Gothic buildings.

Another place on Plaza del Rey that deserves the attention of visitors to the city is the capital of Catalonia, located in a 15th century mansion, Casa Clariana-Padellàs. The most interesting part of the museum is the site archaeological site... In an area of ​​4,000 square meters, right below the square, you can take an excursion into the history of the city - from the first century BC. NS. until the seventeenth century. Ruins of buildings of different centuries and cultures, fragments of houses and workshops, temples and streets, parts of the fortress wall and tower, a pool that remained from an ancient bathhouse, a crossroads of the city, the remains of shops and a patrician villa. In addition to archaeological excavations, it is necessary to visit the palace, which includes the Throne Room (Salo del Tinell), a magnificent example of Catalan Gothic from 1370, in the same room the Holy Tribunal also held its sessions. You can climb the tower from where it opens great view, and go to Royal Chapel Saint Agatha, erected in the XIV century on the ruins of the Roman walls. The Chapel of St. Agatha is famous for the Gothic image of the Constable. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, it is closed on Monday.

Secrets of the medieval city

The Gothic city is fraught with many secrets, sometimes hidden from the eyes of tourists deep underground, as, for example, in the medieval Jewish quarter El Call. Until the 15th century, only Jews lived here, but constant extortions and pogroms by the rulers of Catalonia led to the exodus of the Jewish population from El Call. In those days, in every house where Jewish families lived, there was a door leading to an underground passage. In case of danger, the Jews used the underground passage to hide outside the fortress wall and wait out the danger. Such doors exist to this day in many of the old houses of the quarter, and there are even guided tours of some of the houses. Now in the vicinity of Carrer del Call there are numerous antique, second-hand and souvenir shops. You can get acquainted with the history of the quarter, see Jewish household items in Information Center Cal (Center d`Interpretacio del Call).

The famous art cabaret “Four Cats” (Els Quatre Gats) is located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, ​​the prototype of which was its Parisian cousin “Black Cat” cabaret and which used to be very popular among the creative elite of Barcelona. Famous artists, sculptors and musicians of the late 19th - early 20th centuries loved to visit the art cafe. Among famous visitors institutions were such personalities as Julio Gonzalez, Pablo Picasso, Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol.

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona is a must-see part of the city, whether you like Gothic or not. This is a unique opportunity to visit the past, feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, get acquainted with the culture

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The Gothic Quarter is one of the districts of Barcelona, ​​famous for its magnificent medieval buildings, there are several major architectural monuments.This is a great place to self walk or with our audio guide.

The history of the Gothic Quarter goes back to ancient times, during the Roman rule over Spain. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city, and with it the quarter, fell into decay, but only to flourish in the most glorious days of Catalonia, when it was part of the Kingdom of Aragon. Most of the buildings date back to the 14-15th centuries. Turbulent events in the history of Spain and Catalonia in the following centuries could more than once affect the safety of local attractions, but, fortunately for tourists, the quarter stood firmly on its foundations.

Attractions in the Gothic Quarter

In the quarter, you can find a huge number of interesting medieval buildings, and some of the buildings are real attractions, magnets for tourists.

The first of these titans is the Temple of the Roman Emperor Augustus, severely battered by time, but still keeping the shadow of its former size and beauty. For better preservation, the surviving fragments of the temple (and these are only 4 columns) were hidden from the weather, placing them in a pavilion.

The Royal Palace is a well-preserved, lovingly restored complex that allows you to experience the amazing medieval Catalan architecture. The palace, like many other buildings in Spain, is the result of a union of Moorish and European architecture, it is distinguished by courtyards, facades of intertwining arches, as well as many windows of various shapes and sizes.

The Gothic Quarter is known for a large number of ancient temples, the most famous of which are the Cathedral of Saint Eulalili, the Church of Le Merce and Santa Maria del Pi. Each monument has its own unique architectural appearance and rich history.

St. Jacob's Square - old, main square Barcelona and all of Catalonia. Administrative buildings are located around it, various meetings, processions and holidays are held on the site itself. Sundays, at good weather, music is playing and dancing.

The Royal Square is small and square, decorated with green spaces and palm trees. it popular place meetings and entertainment, especially in the evening. Around the square there are many restaurants and shops, as well as popular nightclubs.

"Four Cats" is a famous art cafe, opened in 1897 in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. The city's creative elite once gathered there, including Antoni Gaudi and Pablo Picasso. The dictator Franco destroyed this institution, but after his departure, it was carefully restored and again awaits visitors.

If you prefer a more personalized solution, you can rent an apartment. Including in a real medieval house!

Enjoy your walks in the Gothic Quarter!